Ribbon lock for typewriter spools

ABSTRACT

A typewriter ribbon spooling arrangement comprising two spools joined by an open bridging channel through which the ribbon passes, and which can be broken to enable installation of the spools in a typewriter, wherein integral hinged covers are provided for the channels, which prevent transverse emergence of the ribbon from the channels.

United States Patent Walter D. Landgrai 9628 S. Kildare Ave., Oak Lawn, Ill. 60453 785,935

Dec. 23, 1968 June 1, 1971 Inventor Appl, No. Filed Patented RIBBON LOCK FOR TYPEWRITER SPOOLS 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 197/175, 197/151 Int. Cl B41j 35/00, B41j 33/14 Field ofSearch 197/175, 151

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,094,204 6/1963 Landgraf 197/151 3,151,724 10/1964 Rossetal i 197/151 3,195,828 7/1965 Kuckhoffet a1. 244/74.1 3,260,344 7/1966 Doyle 197/151 3,425,532 2/1969 Dannatt 197/151 Primary ExaminerErnest T. Wright, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Stephen C. Pellegrino AttorneyHurvitz, Rose & Greene ABSTRACT: A typewriter ribbon spooling arrangement comprising two spoois joined by an open bridging channel through which the ribbon passes, and which can be broken to enable installation of the spools in a typewriter, wherein integral hinged covers are provided for the channels, which prevent transverse emergence of the ribbon from the channels.

PATENTED JUN Han 358L864 ATTORNEYS RIBBON'LOCK FOR TYPEWRITER SPOOLS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,093,231, issued June ll, 1963,] have disclosed a double spool and cuparrangement in which two spools are joined by an elongated member providing a channel, open on one side, which join the two spools. It is requisite that the channels be open to permit threading of ribbons, but it is desirable that there be provided means for retaining the .ribbon in the channel when such retention is desired. No device for this purpose has heretofore been available. I have devised a simple hinged channel cover, fabricated of the same plastic material as is the spool and its cups and formed integrally therewith, the hinge joint being provided as a thinned portion of the material of the hinge.

; SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A hinge and cover for a channel made of resinous or moldable plastic material, the hinge and cover being integral with the channel and made wholly ofthe same material as the channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a spool arrangement to which the hinge ofthis invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is abottom view in plan of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a' view in section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, with the hinge closed;

FIG. Sis a view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, but showing the hinge open; and

FIG. 6 is a view'in plan showing two separated spools and the relation of the hinges thereto.

DESCRIPTIONOF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, the reference numeral 10 denotes one'cup and the reference numeral 11 another cup of a twin cup inked ribbon cartridge. The cups 10 and 11 each include bases 12, 13, cylindrical walls l4, l5, and axial openings 16, 17, in thebases respectively.

The spool elements 18 include disc-shaped flanges 20 (FIG. 3) acting as cover plates which have slightly smaller diameters than the inner diameters of cylindrical walls l4, l5, and hence fit closely, but rotationally therein. Extending centrally from each flange 20 is a walled hub 21, on which may be wound a ribbon 22.

The ribbon spools of the present invention are adapted to be inserted in the ribbon wells 30 of certain commercial typewriters, to which are secured mechanisms 31 for actuating the spools when the typewriter keys are actuated and the carriage feeds. The latter mechanism includes a pin 32 which extends into a mating opening 33 in a boss 34 located interiorly of hub 21.

The above-described structure, lines 220 is conventional and is fully described and illustrated in my prior US. Pat. No. 3,093,231.

The cups l4, 15 are joined by an elongated bridging element 40, which provides a narrow channel, open at its bottom, which guides the ribbon 22 in passing from one spool 18 to the other. In order to install the spools l8 and cups 10, 11 in a typewriter, the bridging element 40 is separated at a point centrally of the bridging element 40, at which portions 41 of the sidewalls 42 are removed, leaving only the top wall 43 of the channel, and thereby providing a weak spot, easily broken away.

It is then desired that a removable closure 50 be provided for the channel 40, to support the ribbon 22 at the underside of the channel 40. The closure 50 may be removed or opened to permit threading of replacement ribbons 22, but otherwise can remain closed. This provision constitutes the essence of the invention.

Two hinged closures are provided, one on either side of opening 41, as at 50, 51'. Each closure 50, 51 is hinged by providing a thinned or weakened portion of the hinge material at its junction with a wall 53 of channel 41 (FIG. 4). The closure 50, 51 extends across the open channel and terminates in two parallel walls 54, 55, extending perpendicularly of the main body of the closure 50, 51 and separated by a distance slightly less than the thickness of a channel wall 42, and positioned to straddle the channel wall 42 (FIG. 6) when the closures 50 or 51 is in closed condition. It is then found that the closure 50 or 51 lock tight, but can be readily opened by using the fingernails, when the open condition is required.

Iclaim:

1. A typewriter ribbon spool and cup arrangement including a pair of cups having a ribbon extending between said cups,

a channel for said ribbon extending between said cups and including two sidewalls and a top wall, leaving an open bottom,

a closure for said open bottom having a closure wall extending between said sidewalls at the bottom of said channel, said closure being integral with one of the sidewalls and fabricated of the same material as said one of said sidewalls, said closure at said one of said sidewalls being weakened to provide a hinge, said closure at the other of said sidewalls having two parallel legs extending at right angles to said closure wall and separated by a distance arranged and adapted to only frictionally engage said other of said sidewalls. 

1. A typewriter ribbon spool and cup arrangement including a pair of cups having a ribbon extending between said cups, a channel for said ribbon extending between said cups and including two sidewalls and a top wall, leaving an open bottom, a closure for said open bottom having a closure wall extending between said sidewalls at the bottom of said channel, said closure being integral with one of the sidewalls and fabricated of the same material as said one of said sidewalls, said closure at said one of said sidewalls being weakened to provide a hinge, said closure at the other of said sidewalls having two parallel legs extending at right angles to said closure wall and separated by a distance arranged and adapted to only frictionally engage said other of said sidewalls. 